Quakes very forward-looking for playoff run

Dwight Chapin

Published 4:00 am, Friday, September 26, 2003

Now that Landon Donovan seems to have found his scoring touch, the Earthquakes may not need much help up front, but they've added a pair of forwards as they begin their stretch run to the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Rodrigo Faria, whom the Quakes obtained in a trade with Chicago a month ago, finally joined the team this week from Brazil, after working through visa problems. And ex-Stanford star Roger Levesque, who was with the Quakes briefly this season before moving on to spend August and September with the A-League Seattle Sounders, has been re-signed.

Faria, the 2001 MLS Rookie of the Year when he was with New York/New Jersey, hasn't played in weeks but could see some action Saturday night when the Quakes host Dallas at Spartan Stadium.

"Rodrigo looks very good," Quakes head coach Frank Yallop said. "We know that he is a good player. The question is whether he will fit into our system, and I think he will. Obviously, fitness is a huge issue with him, but he is working hard, and everyone knows he is a quality player."

Rookie Levesque, a third-round draft choice, played only two games with the Quakes earlier this season because he was recovering from knee surgery, but he did well in Seattle, scoring three goals and adding an assist in nine games.

Photo: Jeff Chiu

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

SOCCER08B-C-07DEC01-SP-JC-- Stanford's Roger Levesque points toward his teammates after scoring a goal in the first half on Saint Louis goalkeeper John Politis to give the Cardinal a 1-0 lead as they face the Saint Louis Billikens during their quarterfinals match in the 2001 Divison I Men's Soccer Championship on Friday night at Maloney Field at Stanford. Photo by Jeff Chiu / The Chronicle. less

SOCCER08B-C-07DEC01-SP-JC-- Stanford's Roger Levesque points toward his teammates after scoring a goal in the first half on Saint Louis goalkeeper John Politis to give the Cardinal a 1-0 lead as they face the ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu

Quakes very forward-looking for playoff run

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Since Brian Ching went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon Aug. 16, Yallop has had to juggle the other forward spot, opposite Donovan, who is coming off his first three-goal game against Kansas City last weekend. Brian Mullan and Manny Lagos, both of whom more normally are midfielders, have filled in for Ching. But now Yallop will have more options.

The Quakes, who can clinch home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a victory over the Burn, are now hurting in the back, however. Defender Eddie Robinson is out this week with a knee injury, and injury- plagued Troy Dayak is doubtful because of a bruised thigh.

The college beat: It's old home week for Stanford women's coach Paul Ratcliffe, whose Cardinal will visit St. Mary's for a 1 p.m. match Saturday. Ratcliffe, whose No. 21-ranked team started slowly but is now 4-3-1, coached the Gaels last season. He'll be up against new St. Mary's head coach Paul Sapsford, who not only is Ratcliffe's former assistant with the Gaels, but was co-head coach, with Stephanie Erickson, at Stanford last season.

The Bay Area's highest nationally-ranked team, the No. 5 Santa Clara men, was handed its first defeat of the season Tuesday night, falling to San Jose State, 2-1.

"Our lack of intensity in the first half really hurt us," said coach Cam Rast, whose Broncos also saw their defensive scoreless streak end at just under 454 minutes.